Greetings Golfers,

I have to talk about last week’s US Open. I’m sure you’ve read articles about it and talked to your friends about it … but, this one deserves a lot of review.

First off – how great is Jordan Spieth? It was a roller coaster finish – especially the last hole. Yet the last three holes were amazing – Spieth’s birdie putt on #16, Grace’s OB drive also on “16, Spieth’s double bogey on #17, and Dustin Johnson’s birdie on #17.

But #18 was mind boggling. Spieth hitting that incredible second shot to set up an eagle putt – which he wisely cozied-up to leave himself a tap-in birdie … and then Johnson hitting a perfect drive and second shot to give himself an even closer eagle putt. And then Johnson rolling his eagle attempt four feet by and missing the comeback putt to lose by one shot. Unbelievable drama!

I have to admit that I’m not a DJ fan. He’s probably my least favorite guy on Tour. And that Jordan Spieth is probably my favorite guy on Tour. But, I wanted Johnson to make that comeback putt for birdie and the tie. I actually felt sick when he missed it. I never want to see someone lose a tournament – I want to see someone win it.

The golf course. The players and the media really went after Chambers Bay. Gary Player’s rant was especially vicious. I liked Player’s comments about the state of golf and golf architecture – but I completely disagreed with his comments about Chambers Bay as a US Open venue. Was the golf course extremely difficult? Yes. But Adam Scott shot 64 on the final round. The best players in the world did rise to the top of the leader board – isn’t that the point of the US Open? And, this was not played for fun – this was a test – a brutal test. Professional golfers need to deal with the conditions. Professional football players sometimes play in terrible conditions … they have to deal with it. Professional golfers should not be exempt from difficult conditions.

Do I want to play Chambers Bay? Not really. Is it a public golf course? Sort of. It was built to host the US Open – not for the golfing needs of the residents of Tacoma. The USGA playing the public course card was a farce – the green fee is $200+ … not exactly your typical muni.

In summary: Jordan Spieth has emerged as a true superstar who is wise beyond his years. Dustin Johnson continues to implode under pressure – I feel sorry for him, but just can’t seem to like him. Chambers Bay was a good venue for a US Open … but a bad golf course for public play.

What a paradox of a US Open.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

This week the U.S. Open is being played at Chambers Bay in Seattle – the first Open held in the Pacific Northwest. Though the Seattle area is like a rainforest, this golf course is more like a Scottish links course. In fact, it’s so hard and dry, that I saw a video of a player bouncing a golf ball on a fairway like a basketball – not exactly soft and lush.

Even though Chambers Bay is like Scotland, this is the U.S. Open and I expect an American to win. (Note – I’m writing this before play has begun.) America is a young country – we are enthusiastic like young people – and I think optimistic enthusiasm is needed to win this tournament. Henrik Stenson made a negative comment about the course this week – Jordan Spieth responded by saying “If you’re going to talk negative about a place, you’re almost throwing yourself out to begin with, because golf is a mental game”. Patience and wisdom are also needed on this golf course. Enthusiasm and wisdom – isn’t that the perfect combination? Spieth seems to have it. Colin Montgomery said that Jordan has an old head – Spieth is definitely wise beyond his years.

Phil Mickleson has never won a U.S. Open – the only Major he’s never won. He running out of time to complete the Slam … but he could win this week. Phil’s a weird cat. He won a PGA Tour event while he was an amateur at ASU. It looked like he’d be the next Nicklaus. Sure, Tiger Woods came along and made Phil’s path a lot more difficult … but Phil never really lived up to his talent.

Phil lost the 1999 U.S. Open to Payne Stewart. Stewart was a brash, enthusiastic guy when he won the 1989 PGA Championship. But he grew up a lot and was a different guy when he won the 1999 U.S. Open – he was pretty close to being that enthusiastic and wise combination. I think if Payne hadn’t died later that year in that bizarre plane crash, he would’ve given Tiger Woods a serious challenge during Tiger’s heyday. Tiger intimidated everyone – even Phil – but I don’t think he would’ve intimidated Payne Stewart.

Is this Tiger’s week for redemption? He could do it – but I’d be really surprised. Yet, if Woods can be enthusiastic and wise…

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Greetings Golfers,

A few months ago I wrote a column about how people like tv shows that show life as la-la-land rather than the reality of life. I think that this constant portrayal of life as beautiful people living in beautiful homes whose problems are only dramatic misunderstandings … leads to a lot of unhappiness by the viewers who believe that they’re missing out.

Forty years ago the movie “Network” was about a tv anchorman trying to tell people that television wasn’t real – that their lives are real … not the other way around.

I feel the same way about televised golf. People believe that the PGA Tour is what golf is all about … that what they are watching is “real” golf.

I couldn’t disagree more. Tour players are playing for serious money … they are professional golfers – that’s how they are earning their living. Their courses are ridiculously difficult … and ridiculously manicured. Their attention to every shot is ridiculous. Their pace of play is ridiculous. The need for perfect silence is ridiculous. The amount of money they play for is ridiculous. Is it fun to watch? Yeah – it’s a gas … but that’s not golf … that’s a cartoon.

But, the images are so powerful that people think that’s how they should play golf. The same way that people used to think that “Leave to Beaver” was normal … that Mom (June) should come to dinner in pearls, and that Beaver losing Wally’s homework was a tragedy.

So, if you don’t swing like Rory McElroy and use the latest driver and back-up your 7 iron shots and have matching headcovers and play on a flawless course … you can’t have fun playing golf.

Probably the most fun I had playing golf was when I went to ASU and used to play Papago Park every afternoon. Papago was a great muni golf course right near the Phoenix airport. My partner in crime was Todd – who is still a golf pro in Phoenix. Todd and I had goofy homemade swings and we both had taped-up old Vagabond golf bags (Todd had gym socks as head covers) … and we usually played in flip-flop sandals. Because Papago was near the airport, it got a lot of golf obsessed businessmen ready to show off their “Tour” style golf games. These guys had the “style” but not the game. They especially loved having the big Tour bag. I know, I know … you know where this is going … we couldn’t help it … these guys always wanted to play us for money.

Watching the Tour on tv is great. But playing golf is even better. Not the uptight weird version where people aren’t playing golf as much as they’re trying to play some imaginary version of “golf”. Golf should be as much fun and as casual as a game of pick-up basketball.

Television can be a fun distraction … but that’s all it is. Playing golf is a real experience … and a lot better than television.

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com